New Braunfels is usually considered a vacation destination. While it has no university of its own, it has a distinct college town feel, probably due to the huge numbers of students from universities in nearby [[San Antonio]] and [[San Marcos (Texas)|San Marcos]]. As the name implies, it has a [[German]] heritage, and many of the local attractions capitalize on this. Most of the town's revenue comes from tourism drawn by the incredible rivers.

New Braunfels is usually considered a vacation destination. While it has no university of its own, it has a distinct college town feel, probably due to the huge numbers of students from universities in nearby [[San Antonio]] and [[San Marcos (Texas)|San Marcos]]. As the name implies, it has a [[German]] heritage, and many of the local attractions capitalize on this. Most of the town's revenue comes from tourism drawn by the incredible rivers.

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New Braunfels is also the home of several other smaller "towns" within the city. One of these "towns" is [http://www.gruenetexas.com/history.html Gruene, TX], home of the Gristmill Restaurant and Gruene Hall.

==Get in==

==Get in==

Line 19:

Line 21:

==Do==

==Do==

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===Water Parks===

* <do name="Schlitterbahn" address="" phone="830-625-2351" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.schlitterbahn.com/">Consistently called the best waterpark in the world. See web site for various ticket prices, reserve rooms early to ensure availability.</do>

* <do name="Schlitterbahn" address="" phone="830-625-2351" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.schlitterbahn.com/">Consistently called the best waterpark in the world. See web site for various ticket prices, reserve rooms early to ensure availability.</do>

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===Tubing===

===Tubing===

This seems to be what the Comal river was created for. People rent an innertube, hop in the water, and float a few miles down the river. The services of a tubing shuttle are often employed to get from the end back to the insertion point, but because of loops in the river it's a very short walk. Note a recent ordinances prohibit carrying coolers with a capacity over 16 quarts on the river in city limits [http://www.nbcham.org/ContainerOrdinance'07.htm], and consumption or carrying an open container of an alcoholic drink in city parks [http://www.nbcham.org/opencontainer.htm].

This seems to be what the Comal river was created for. People rent an innertube, hop in the water, and float a few miles down the river. The services of a tubing shuttle are often employed to get from the end back to the insertion point, but because of loops in the river it's a very short walk. Note a recent ordinances prohibit carrying coolers with a capacity over 16 quarts on the river in city limits [http://www.nbcham.org/ContainerOrdinance'07.htm], and consumption or carrying an open container of an alcoholic drink in city parks [http://www.nbcham.org/opencontainer.htm].

* <do name="New Braunfels Folkfest" address="1370 Church Hill Drive" url="http://www.nbheritagevillage.com/folkfest.html">Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage festival celebrating the German/Anglo/Spanish heritage of New Braunfels. Most activities take place at the Heritage Village, but there is a costumed children's parade (the Kindermaskenball Parade) that takes place in Downtown New Braunfels. This is generally held the second week of April, but check the website for more details</do>

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* <do name="Comal County Fair" address="Fair Park - Common Street and the Guadalupe River" phone="830-625-1505" email="[email protected]" price="Generally $3 for Adults, Children free" url="http://www.comalcountyfair.org/index.html">The Comal County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in Texas and is generally held the last week of September. The Friday during the Fair is a local holiday with a downtown parade and other activities</do>

* <do name="Wurstfest" address="" phone="800-221-4369" email="" fax="" hours="" price="Admission: $8/person" url="http://www.wurstfest.com/">German for "sausage festival", is held for ten days, beginning the Friday before the first Monday in November. Concessions are found throughout the grounds. Activities celebrating the German heritage take place throughout New Braunfels during Wurstfest (Heritage Exhibit)</do>

* <do name="Wurstfest" address="" phone="800-221-4369" email="" fax="" hours="" price="Admission: $8/person" url="http://www.wurstfest.com/">German for "sausage festival", is held for ten days, beginning the Friday before the first Monday in November. Concessions are found throughout the grounds. Activities celebrating the German heritage take place throughout New Braunfels during Wurstfest (Heritage Exhibit)</do>

* <buy name="Historic down town New Braunfels" directions="West San Antonio/Spur St. at Bus. 46" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="">A large variety of shops along the streets.</buy>

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* <buy name="Old Gruene Market Days" directions="Gruene District - Take IH35 Exit #191and go west on Hwy 306 for 1. 5miles - Take a Left onto Hunter Road at Doug's BBQ" url="http://www.gruenemarketdays.com/">A variety of stores in the historic Gruene district of New Braunfels, including a winery, hand-made furniture, and arts/crafts</buy>

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* <buy name="Historic New Braunfels Downtown" directions="West San Antonio/Spur St. at Bus. 46" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.newbraunfelsdowntown.com/">A large variety of shops along the streets.</buy>

Contents

Understand

New Braunfels is usually considered a vacation destination. While it has no university of its own, it has a distinct college town feel, probably due to the huge numbers of students from universities in nearby San Antonio and San Marcos. As the name implies, it has a German heritage, and many of the local attractions capitalize on this. Most of the town's revenue comes from tourism drawn by the incredible rivers.

New Braunfels is also the home of several other smaller "towns" within the city. One of these "towns" is Gruene, TX, home of the Gristmill Restaurant and Gruene Hall.

Get in

New Braunfels is situated on IH-35 at SH-46, near the Comal and Guadalupe rivers. Access to New Braunfels is accessible via private plane charter, highway access, and the Greyhound Bus Line. Airport shuttles from Austin and San Antonio are available. From San Antonio, head north on IH-35 about half an hour (30 miles) until you reach the SH-46 exit. From Austin, head south on IH-35 for about an hour (60 miles), past San Marcos, and exit SH-46. From Houston, head west on IH-10 about two and a half hours (150 miles), exit SH-46, and head north for about half an hour (30 miles more).

Get around

By Car

Personal vehicle travel is the only effective motorized transportation in town. Print, download, or buy a local map and brave the roads. Traffic during summer weekends is very heavy. Prince Solms Park often has free parking after the for-pay lot is full. Parking costs $5-$10 depending on location. Many tube rental shops offer free parking all day with rental.

By Bicycle

With heavy traffic and crowded roads, bicycle and foot are appealing travel options. There are a few bicycle rental shops in town. Remember that bicycles are considered vehicles in the eyes of law enforcement, so obey all traffic laws.

See

Rivers

The Comal and Guadalupe rivers offer beautiful sights.

Do

Water Parks

Schlitterbahn, ☎830-625-2351, [1]. Consistently called the best waterpark in the world. See web site for various ticket prices, reserve rooms early to ensure availability.

Tubing

This seems to be what the Comal river was created for. People rent an innertube, hop in the water, and float a few miles down the river. The services of a tubing shuttle are often employed to get from the end back to the insertion point, but because of loops in the river it's a very short walk. Note a recent ordinances prohibit carrying coolers with a capacity over 16 quarts on the river in city limits [15], and consumption or carrying an open container of an alcoholic drink in city parks [16].

City Tube Rental, Liberty Ave. (Liberty, between Common and South). Run by the city of New Braunfels. Tube rental also has a $10 deposit, returned when you return the tubes - you are asked to write your name on the receipt, which is kept on file for the day, and your deposit is returned when you provide the rented tubes and name on the receipt.Parking: $7/vehicle, Admission: $5 (not required for tubing), Shuttle: $10/trip, Tube rental: $7 (plus $10 deposit).

Festivals and Fairs

New Braunfels Folkfest, 1370 Church Hill Drive, [2]. Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage festival celebrating the German/Anglo/Spanish heritage of New Braunfels. Most activities take place at the Heritage Village, but there is a costumed children's parade (the Kindermaskenball Parade) that takes place in Downtown New Braunfels. This is generally held the second week of April, but check the website for more details

Comal County Fair, Fair Park - Common Street and the Guadalupe River, ☎830-625-1505 ([email protected]), [3]. The Comal County Fair is one of the largest county fairs in Texas and is generally held the last week of September. The Friday during the Fair is a local holiday with a downtown parade and other activitiesGenerally $3 for Adults, Children free.

Wurstfest, ☎800-221-4369, [4]. German for "sausage festival", is held for ten days, beginning the Friday before the first Monday in November. Concessions are found throughout the grounds. Activities celebrating the German heritage take place throughout New Braunfels during Wurstfest (Heritage Exhibit)Admission: $8/person.

Hiking

Landa Park, ☎830-221-4350 (fax: 830-608-2162), [5]. A large park along the Comal river. It has lots of trails and open spaces, but is not very secluded.

Tours

Camping

Buy

Old Gruene Market Days, (Gruene District - Take IH35 Exit #191and go west on Hwy 306 for 1. 5miles - Take a Left onto Hunter Road at Doug's BBQ), [8]. A variety of stores in the historic Gruene district of New Braunfels, including a winery, hand-made furniture, and arts/crafts

Historic New Braunfels Downtown, (West San Antonio/Spur St. at Bus. 46), [9]. A large variety of shops along the streets.

San Marcos Outlet Mall, IH-35 (About 15 min north on IH-35).

Eat

Pat's Place, 202 S. Union St. (Union at South, right by Prince Solms Park), ☎830-629-1491. Caters to tubing groups. Proper attire is of course required by law (that is, shirts and shoes), but they take to-go orders. Their burgers are great, and they have a variety of local beer.

Oma's Haus, 541 S. SH-46 (SH-46 just west of IH-35, before Freiheit Rd./FM 1101), ☎830-625-3280, [10]. A bavarian restaurant near the edge of town. The food is great, and a wide variety of imported German beers are available.$10.

Clear Springs Texas Seafood, 1692 S. SH-46 (SH-46 just north of IH-35), ☎830-629-3775, [11]. Known for its fried catfish.

Get out

San Marcos is a college town and has larger stretches of river in a more natural state.

Austin is the capitol of Texas, has endless quirks and is definitely worth a visit.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!